Colts-Bengals Game Report

Colts-Bengals Game Report

FOURTH QUARTER UPDATE

Larry Asante stopped the kickoff return at the Cincinnati 14. On third-and-six, Skelton hit Taveon Rogers for 30 yards near midfield. On third-and-one, Herron converted a first down up the middle. On third-and-five, Skelton hit Sanzenbacher over the middle to the Colts’ 15. Caesar Rayford halted a Bengals reverse and on third down at the 15, Skelton hit Burkhead to the seven. Skelton misfired on fourth down with 4:18 left.

Williams carried on second down to the Cincinnati 21. Williams converted the third-and-one with a four-yard run up the middle. Harnish hit Robert Hughes from the backfield for eight yards to the Cincinnati six. Harnish hit Jones for a seven-yard touchdown to end a 16-play, 82-yard march that consumed 8:46.

THIRD QUARTER UPDATE

On second-and-12, Williams burst right for 16 yards to the Colts’ 32. Harnish and Cunningham hit for seven yards and a first down to the 42. Williams carried up the middle for eight yards. Hughes carried over the left side for another Colts first down. On third-and-eight from the 39, Harnish and Brown converted a first down to end the quarter.

Emmett Cleary of the Colts is questionable to return with an ankle injury.

Two Cincinnati rushes gained nine yards, and the Colts held on third-and-one. Rex Burkhead rushed off right tackle for two yards to convert the first down. On third-and-eight, Skelton and Burkhead combined on a 10-yard pass to the Colts’ two. Burkhead swept left for score to convert the takeaway into points. The Bengals led, 27-3, with 5:27 left in the quarter.

Indianapolis started at its 18 after a Williams kickoff return. A short run and an incompletion brought up third-and-nine, and Schaffer intercepted Harnish and returned the takeaway to the Colts’ 25.

Herron rushed for five yards to start the drive that originated at the 15. The Bengals got a first down by penalty, then Sergio Brown was flagged for pass interference. John Skelton was targeting Hamilton, a 31-yard penalty to the Colts’ 44. Marshay Green was flagged for five more yards, the Colts’ third penalty on the drive. On third-and-seven, Skelton missed to Bryce Davis, but the Colts were hit with illegal contact to extend the drive. After a Bengals penalty, Skelton hit Davis for 26 yards to the Colts’ 12. Cincinnati missed on an end zone fade route on third down and Nugent converted a 33-yard field goal for a 20-3 lead with 4:30 gone by in the quarter. It was a nine-play, 70-yard drive aided by Colts penalties.

SECOND QUARTER UPDATE

Cincinnati had 13 first downs to the Colts’ 8. The Bengals converted five-of-seven third downs and owned a net yardage lead of 194-118, while out-rushing the Colts, 123-70.

Daniel Herron rushed for 20 yards to open the drive. Cassius Vaughn defensed a mid-range pass on first down. Johnson was flushed from the pocket by Mathews on second down, then he connected with Cobi Hamilton for 18 yards to the Bengals’ 47. Johnson hit Ryan Whalen for 16 yards on third-and-10. Cincinnati took its first time out at the Colts’ 37 with 1:05 remaining. On third-and-three from the 30, Johnson was sacked by a blitzing Larry Asante for an 11-yard loss to force a punt. Kevin Huber punted to the Colts’ 10 with three seconds left in the half.

Williams rushed twice for six yards and on third-and-four, Harnish and Whalen clicked for a first down on a six-yard completion. Williams broke right for 23 yards. Robert Hughes rushed for nine yards to give the Colts a first down at the Cincinnati 36. Indianapolis was flagged for holding, and Hughes hit up the middle for six yards. On third-and-13 from the 39, Harnish scrambled for one yard. McAfee punted to the Cincinnati nine with 2:06 left in the quarter.

Cincinnati moved for a first down when Johnson fled the pocket and gained 21 yards to the Colts’ 33. Johnson after gaining big over the right side left the pocket to the left and rushed for 17 yards. After Peerman gained five yards, Angerer halted a completion after three yards. Peerman swept to the three for a first down. Johnson and Marvin Jones connected for the score one play later to conclude the 58-yard drive 7:06 into the quarter. The Bengals have 103 rushing yards after the drive.

Harnish hit a short pass to start the drive, then Kerwynn Williams hit off right tackle for 13 yards. Harnish was sacked on second down after a short Williams rush and on third-and-11, Harnish and Sambrano could not connect. Vinatieri was wide left on a 52-yard field goal with 11:58 left in the quarter.

On the Bengals’ first play, Mario Harvey stripped Peerman of the ball and Larry Asante recovered for the Colts at the Cincinnati 47.

FIRST QUARTER UPDATE

Chandler Harnish started the Colts’ third possession, and the drive was a three-and-out, with Harnish being leveled by J.K. Schaffer. The sack ended the first quarter.

Josh Johnson hit Bernard for 16 yards to start the drive. Cedric Peerman reversed field and gained 22 yards, but the Colts stiffened at their 24. Mike Nugent hit a 42-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead with 1:07 left in the period. Ricardo Mathews and Bjoern Werner had consecutive sacks for the Colts.

The Colts were dropped for a seven-yard loss on the opening play while running a reverse. After Brown hit for six yards up the middle, he gained two yards on a delayed draw, forcing a punt. Pat McAfee booted 53 yards and Cincinnati started on its 36.

Cincinnati returned Pat McAfee’s kick to the Colts 49, a 51-yard return. Colts front-liners in to open the drive were Pat Angerer, Aubrayo Franklin and Ricky Jean Francois. Cincinnati had rushes of seven, nine, two and six yard, then struck for 18 yards to the Colts’ seven on its first pass attempt. Darius Butler was flagged for interference in the end zone. Cincinnati scored on a one-yard run by Giovani Bernard to cap the drive. It was a seven-play that ended with 6:40 left in the quarter.

The Colts’ first-team defense, which may not play intact tonight, has not allowed a preseason touchdown. The team’s first-team unit has allowed only eight conversions in the last 31 third-down attempts.

The Colts could be completing their first winning preseason since 2003. Cincinnati owns the preseason series edge, 13-8. The Colts lead the league series, 16-9, and the Colts have won the only playoff meeting.

The Colts hope to close preseason with a strong defensive performance against the run, but Cincinnati has averaged 170.7 yards per game, plus a 5.6 average per attempt.

Cincinnati Asst. HC/OL Paul Alexander and Colts GM Ryan Grigson are close friends. Grigson was drafted by Cincinnati in the sixth-round in 1995, and Alexander was his position coach during his stay.

Jeff Linkenbach, Hugh Thornton, Griff Whalen, Ricardo Mathews and LaVon Brazill are either Ohio natives or played collegiately in the state.

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